The Craig Needles Podcast

There's some new rules surrounding the controversial safe supply program - but will those changes actually make a difference in London? Craig was joined by political insider Ryan Gauss and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad on the Friday Round Table to discuss. Can the changes prevent diversion? Do we need to wind the program down entirely?  Then, some new polling shows Doug Ford's approval rating is sitting at 21%. Trouble ahead for the Progressive Conservatives?  Craig and the panel break it down on a brand new episode powered by London Hydro along with Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

This week in Ottawa, Safe Social Media Act (also known at Bill C-34) was introduced. The government says their goal is to create "a safer online space for all Canadians, especially children". Will they accomplish their goal? What about privacy concerns? And why is unfettered access to social media causing so many problems for kids? Dr. Emma Duerden, an associate professor of education at Western University and a Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience and Learning Disorders, joined Craig on the podcast for her thoughts.  The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

In the wake of the announced House of Hope closure, fingers are being pointed. Should we blame the provincial government? London city council? Everyone? Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller and advocate Dr. Jeff Preston to look at those questions. Then, a conversation about Canadian downtowns - including London's. Big City Mayors are asking for big investments from the federal government, aimed at improving cores all over the country. Will Mark Carny actually cut the cheque? What should the money be spent on? Plus - a new report blames London's rat problem on... Londoners. Is a $400 fine for not having a clean property enough to solve the rat issue? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

London has often been criticized by commentators (Craig included) for being anti-fun. But is the city shedding that label? The Forest City London Music Awards are coming up - which means a city wide celebration that runs for more than a week! John Pacheco and Howie Kittleson - the co-producers of the June 14th awards show - joined Craig in the studio to talk about London's music traditions and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

It's been a messy few years at the Thames Valley District School Board. Scandal. Baseball trips. Criminal charges for an executive. Firings. A board of trustees sidelined. Now, the organization has what they hope is a new long term leader. Kevin Auckland, the board's incoming CEO, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how he plans to win back the trust of TVDSB parents, staff and students - while navigating difficult financial waters. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

A supporting housing facility in downtown London is closing after the Ford government decided to pull the plug on their half of the House of Hope funding. 45 people who live there could soon be homeless. Can this housing be saved? Chris Moss, executive director of London Cares, joined Craig on the podcast to explain how this all happened and what the next steps might be. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

A busy week in London! Craig was joined by advocate Frances Moore and former Y.O.U. Executive Director Steve Cordes to breakdown whether more Londoners will vote in this fall's election than did in the one we had four years ago. Also, a report heading to a city committee this week outlines the potential future of London Transit - should the commission still be made up of councillors or should they bring back citizen appointees? Councillors are also looking at $300 fines for people who leave pets in their car on hot summer days and the results of the renoviction by-law passed two years ago - which appears to be working. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

When this election campaign started almost three weeks ago, we thought 13 of 15 members of council were going to run for their old jobs - then we got a surprise. Susan Stevenson running for Mayor means the race in ward four is wide open. Tom Cull, who put in his nomination papers on the first day of the campaign, joined Craig to talk about the new race, what people at the doors are telling him and what he thinks the big issues are in London. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

It's official - Susan Stevenson is running for mayor. The often controversial Ward 4 councillor filed her papers this week - can she win? Craig is joined by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, political insider Scott Collyer and former council candidate Jeremy McCall to breakdown the race. The key takeaway from Craig: This could create an unexpected coalition for Josh Morgan. Also, the panel looks at what Craig called the worst vote of the term: the 10-5 rejection of a proposed development that featured long-term care home and neighbouring transitional housing building.  The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

It's election season, so let's break it down on the Friday Round Table. London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis and former city councillor Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to look at whether homelessness will be the top issue, their impression of the mayor's race after the first week of the campaign and how many competitive ward races London may have. Then, they talk about news that London Health Sciences Centre will have to replace more than 1,300 windows at University Hospital - while also in a legal battle over the allegedly shoddy work ordered by former hospital executives. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Brett Broadfoot lost his daughter Breanna to intimate partner violence in 2024. Now, he's an advocate for change - locally and nationally. He and London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn joined Craig to talk about Bill C-14, the Bail and Sentencing Reform Act. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

It's election registration day! The municipal election is in October, but you can officially become a candidate for mayor, council or school board trustee - yes, even for the currently under supervision Thames Valley District School Board. Craig was joined in the studio by former Green party candidate Carol Dyck and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad to talk about the upcoming vote. First, they analyze the news that Kirsten Krose - a former staffer in Stephen Harper's office - is running against Josh Morgan for the mayor's seat. Will this be a more competitive race than the one Morgan won in 2022? What will be the key issue in the council races? Will longtime city councillor Roger Caranci be successful in his return to municipal politics? What should Londoners expect out of the trustee races now than the Ford government has changed the rules? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro – with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

As the city rips up another major intersection for the southern leg BRT leg - this time Wellington and Commissioners - business owners and managers have concerns. Ian Sterling Leishman, President of the Old South Business Association, joined Craig on the podcast to talk about the potential problems, how BRT construction has impacted other city businesses and his proposed solutions.   The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.   Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

London City Council has asked the province for help - after downtown councillor David Ferreria noted problems popping up due to safe supply pharmacies in the core. Craig is joined in the studio by a panel of London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn, political insider Ryan Gauss and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid to break down that story and more. They also tackle the Doug Ford 'gravy plane' controversy, the provincial government's aggressive changes to freedom of information rules and the supervision at the Thames Valley District School Board. They wrap up by looking at a conversation in Ottawa about changing laws surrounding intimate partner violence. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of London and Area has received funding from United Way Elgin Middlesex for 50 years. But, amid economic pressures, the United Way has had to put a stop to the BBBSLA funding - which means the organization needs to chart a new fundraising path. Interim executive director Lisa McIntosh joined Craig to explain what that may look like and why the work of BBBSLA is so important. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Click here to purchase a ticket for the 2026 Big Bash. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Former city councillors Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller joined Craig at the studio to breakdown the issues of the week. First, they look at the proposed changes to the trustee role at Ontario school boards. Can we make the changes needed to get the education system on the right track? Then, the City of London has a multi-million dollar surplus from the property tax base. Should that be spent on homelessness initiatives? And the story that ties the two together -Premier Doug Ford has gone out and bought a private jet for nearly $29-million. Maybe some of that money could have helped the school system? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Doug Ford's education minister Paul Calandra announced changes for the trustee role this week. He isn't eliminating the position - but instead limiting their powers and earnings potential. What will that mean at the Thames Valley District School Board? We still don't know whether trustees will be on the ballot this October! Trustee Marianne Larsen joined Craig on the podcast to share her thoughts on what's been announced and what could come next. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook. Previous conversations with Larsen can be found here and here.  

There's been lots of talk in the media and on social media about the micro modular homeless shelter on Cheese Factory Road in south London. Is it working? Do people want to live there? Time to separate some fact from some fiction. London Mayor Josh Morgan and project manager Chris Green joined Craig at the Covent Garden Market studio to talk about rules at the site, how they're battling isolation feelings some residents have and whether the site could be recreated elsewhere in the city. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro - and brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

In the midst of all the turmoil at the Thames Valley District School Board over the last 18 months, educational assistants have been in classrooms trying to keep learning happening - despite labour strife and shrinking staffing numbers.  Rebecca Avey, President of CUPE Local 7575 joins Craig on the podcast to talk about what a regular school day is like for EAs, why they need more people on staff and what can be done to improve the learning environment in TVDSB classrooms. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by London Hydro, with support from Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook. Find Craig's conversation with Bill Tucker here.

The London Health Sciences Centre says 288 nursing positions at the hospital will be eliminated as they continue to battle a large deficit. However, there won't be any layoffs - the positions will be eliminated over several years via attrition. Supervisor David Musyj joined Craig on the podcast to explain how the plan will work, how they hope to limit the impact on patient care and why this move isn't related to the ongoing lawsuits against former LHSC executives. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

The 2026 municipal election could be a real snoozer in London - unless it isn't? City Hall writer Mike Donachie joined Craig to breakdown the latest important issues at city hall - and how they may impact our upcoming vote. Will Josh Morgan have a cakewalk to re-election? How many councillors will be back in 2027? Is Susan Stevenson being underestimated by her opponents? These questions and more on this week's episode! The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

London's home builders have laid off nearly 6,000 people as production stagnates for a variety of reasons. That number could increase rapidly. How did we get here and what can we do about it? London Home Builder's Association CEO Jared Zaifman joins Craig to discuss those questions and look at the societal impacts of home ownership becoming more and more out of reach for people in the twenties and thirties. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Friday Round Table! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market by city councillor and budget chair Elizabeth Peloza, former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and former city council candidate Jeremy McCall. They breakdown the decision by the Ford government to cut off funding to the Carepoint supervised consumption site. Why do this now? What will the impact be? Craig also shares a theory on why the Premier shut down the site now, and the panel discusses London Police Chief Thai Truong's comments on the issue. Also, tiny homes for veterans! Good news story! Is it possible we see more of them? The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

A report done by St. Joseph's Healthcare London and some external bodies says the dog research being done by the hospital and Lawson was within the rules and not cruel to the animals involved. One of the whistleblowers who made the story public disagrees with those findings. "Alex" joined Craig on the podcast to explain the concerns about the report, why coming forward with the story was the right decision, and discuss why animal research rules need to change. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

The supervised consumption site Carepoint has been operating in London since 2018. Now, the Ford government says they're going to shut it down in June. What will the public health fallout be? Dr. Alex Summers, the Medical Officer of Health in Middlesex-London, joined Craig on the podcast to explain what Carepoint actually does, the impact it has had on the health of the community, and what may come after the potential closure later this year. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

London Police are looking for information, after dozens of overdoses in the city's downtown. Is somebody giving out "free drugs" with the aim of killing people in the core? Is this a dealer experimenting with a new drug? Craig is joined by a panel of London Cares CEO Chris Moss, political insider and lawyer Matthew Newton-Reid and London Home Builders Association CEO Jared Zaifman to break down the latest. Then, rents are trending down in London! That's good! Does the Mayor get credit for this? How much has the immigration shift altered the market? Those questions and more on the Friday Round Table, brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

We got more rats! Lots of talk about the rat situation in the east end of London at city hall this week, which makes sense. It's a pretty gross problem. So how did we get here? And what should we do about it? Dr. Brendon Samuels, a member of the environmental stewardship and action committee at the City of London, joined Craig on the podcast to discuss, and even provide some tips. Would quicker emptying of garbage containers in parks help? Then, Craig and Dr. Samuels talk about trees and London being named the 2026 Forest Capital of Canada. Does the city need to do a better job explaining how tree removal works? Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Political insider Nathan Caranci and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck joined Craig for this week's Friday Round Table. They debated Fanshawe College shutting down their south London campus as the feds slash international student numbers. Also, councillor Susan Stevenson wants to prevent city funded agencies from handing out pipes for drug use in and around the downtown core. Should council even consider this? And there's a rat issue in East London! According to CTV, several neighbourhoods have been the source of complaints. Would weekly garbage pickup helps solve the problem? The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

As councillors are set to debate a proposed high-rise near the intersection of Ridout and Kent - people who would have to move for the building to be constructed are set to receive a big offer. York Developments has offered the potentially soon to be displaced tenants $10,000 for their move if they get the go ahead to build a 30-storey, 500+ unit tower on the property. London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis joined Craig on the podcast to talk about that development - and councillors taking campaign donations from builders in the city. Does that create a conflict of interest? The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller and former YOU executive director Steve Cordes. They tackle the latest dispute about the homelessness crisis at city hall, where one councillor is questioning per bed spending totals. Then, a look at the way the safe supply (or, 'prescribed alternatives' as some are now calling it) is administered in London and councillor David Ferriera's criticism of the "corner store" style of the way the program can be accessed. Also, council expense reports are out! Do we really care how much a councillor spends? The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

During a contentious debate over a proposed 30 floor residential high rise York Developments wants to build at the corner of Richmond and Kent Streets, there was talk of campaign donations from York employees potentially greasing the wheel for members of the planning committee to vote in favour of the plan. This was ruled out of order during the meeting - but should it be? Craig discusses the development plan (a rare downtown intensification proposal he doesn't like) and campaign donation rules with Ward 6 councillor Sam Trosow on this edition of the podcast - which is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

The Thames Valley District School Board remains in a time of transition. Trustees are sidelined, the province has put supervision in place, budgets under scrutiny and a director of education who plans on leaving his job. Lots happening! TVDSB Education Director Bill Tucker joins Craig on the podcast to talk about the board's future, his time back in the director's office, why education assistants are angry with the board, and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Six months after controversial research involving dogs was snuffed out by Premier Doug Ford - St. Joseph's Heath Care and Lawson Research have released reports looking at what happened and what needs to change. The reports say the research was within medical guidelines and rules - but the communication within the institution and with the public was lacking in some cases. Roy Butler, President and CEO of St. Joseph's Healthcare, joined the podcast to discuss the findings - and some questions Craig had that weren't addressed in the reports - which leads to an abrupt finish to the conversation. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow the show on your favourite podcast app: Amazon Music | Spotify | TuneIn | Apple Podcasts | iHeart Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook. Craig's podcast exploring this issue with Dr. Brendon Samuels from August can be found here.

A brand new Friday Round Table, as Craig is joined at the Covent Garden Market studio by Ward 13 city councillor David Ferreria, political insider Scott Collyer and consultant Mojdeh Azad. They look at job losses in the London region and the potential challenges for those looking or work on the horizon. Also, how can we create jobs in the downtown core? Then, a conversation about winter shelter challenges the city has and whether it's time to not only increase the amount of time when warming centres are open, but how many warming centres there actually are. Also, the cost of tuition at postsecondary institution is on the rise - after seven years of being frozen. What will that mean for students at Western and Fanshawe? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

The micro-modular shelter in south London is open! What impact ill it have? Is it in the right spot? How can we get more of them? Craig was joined in the studio by London Abused Women's Centre Executive Director Jennifer Dunn and community advocate Jeremy McCall to break down that story and some education matters. First, should high school students get LTC passes? It won't be easy to work out, but Craig says the juice is worth the squeeze.  Also, more cuts are coming at TVDSB. Craig asks the panel if they're concerned about what that means for kids. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

There's no way around it, the federal government's gun buyback program isn't working. Police services say they don't have the resources - or even the desire -to participate, so, where does that leave this? Elgin-St. Thomas-London South MP Andrew Lawton - who worked with Craig for years - joins him on the podcast to break it all down, plus a conversation about bail reform. Is the federal government going to finally get something done on this lightning rod file? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Two former London City Councillors - Roger Caranci and Cheryl Miller - joined Craig in the studio for this week's round table. First, they breakdown a CBC story about a man who was sent to London by health officials in Huron County because he was homeless. Are Ontario municipalities selling each other out in the fight against homelessness? Shouldn't the province act on this? Then, a look at Mayor Josh Morgan's State of the City address this week. Did it seem like a pre-election speech? Will the new homeownership program actually help those trying to get into the market? The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

There multiple several big discussions about London's homelessness crisis at city hall this week - and Ward 4 councillor Susan Stevenson helped bring two of them to the table. She joined Craig on the 434th episode of the podcast to break them all down. One was about when warming centres open and how cold it needs to be for that to happen. Stevenson explains how changing one word could mean the centres are open more frequently and she and Craig talk about how many warming centres the city should have. Then, they talk about shifting funding from outreach towards longer hours at homelessness providers and the good neighbour clause - which Craig still doesn't understand. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

The 2016 Instagram trend seems to have made its way to London City Hall. Bus rapid transit is back! Council is asking the province for cash to put a bus rapid transit route on Wharncliffe Road that runs by Western and to Masonville Mall. Good idea? Or have we gone down this road before? Craig looks at that story with London Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis, United Way Elgin Middlesex CEO Kelly Ziegner and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck on a brand new Friday Round Table. On the 433rd episode of the podcast, the panel also looks at council's upcoming debate over the winter response to homelessness, and a new ranking that says London has the 11th best quality of life in Canada (we did it!). The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market. Follow Craig on Twitter/X, Bluesky and Facebook.

Flu season has been especially brutal this year with the Middlesex-London Health Unit tracking some large case counts. Why have so many people been getting sick? Dr. Jennifer Guthrie, a professor at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, joined Craig on the podcast to explain why this year seems to be worse than flu seasons past - and what you can do to avoid getting ill. The Craig Needles Podcast is powered by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig is joined in the studio by former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott, London Cares Executive Director Chris Moss, and organizational consultant Mojdeh Azad. They breakdown new numbers that show homelessness is on the rise -  85,000 Ontarians were homeless last year, up 8% from 2024. Craig and the panel talk about potential solutions, how bad this can get and whether governments are actually serious about the issue. Then, a look at the construction delay with the micro modular shelters in south London, and why the build started as late as it did. They wrap up with Mark Carney's trip to China - did he, as Doug Ford says damage Ontario's auto sector with this new deal? Episode number 431 of the Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

It's the first Friday Round Table of 2026! Craig was joined at the Covent Garden Market Studio by former city councillor Cheryl Miller, political insider Nathan Caranci and former TVDSB trustee Matthew Newton-Reid. The panel looks ahead to the big political event in London this year - the municipal election. What will the key issues be? How much turnover will there be on council? Will Josh Morgan have an easy road to re-election? Should there be online voting in London? Woodstock is doing it! Also, what's going on with those thrown out books at Beal? Who is to blame? Episode 430 of the Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

The Temporary Foreign Worker program has come under criticism both in Canada from the opposition Conservatives and internationally from the United Nations - is it time to get rid of it? Peter Fragiskatos says no. The London Centre MP - who also serves as the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship - joined Craig on the podcast to explain. Episode 429 of the Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Craig welcomes political insider Scott Collyer, advocate Dr. Jeff Preston and former Green Party candidate Carol Dyck to the studio for the last Friday Round Table of 2025! First, they talk about this "good neighbour" clause proposed at London City Hall, that would require... something of social services. We just don't know exactly what. It seems to be about maintaining property standards - or something. Anyway, will this be effective? Or actively bad for front facing social services agencies? Craig and the panel discuss. Then, London Police have made some new hires. And the headliner is Ali Chahbar, who is their new general counsel. Of course, Chahbar is the former chair of the London Police Services Board and also left the Thames Valley District School Board amid their financial mess. Was this a good hire? Doesn't it look too much like cronyism? Those questions and more on the 428th episode of the Craig Needles Podcast, brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

We have an addictions crisis and a homelessness one - is it time for the province to step up? Ontario's big city mayors say so. Will Doug Ford act? Meantime, there's been some big debates at city hall about the micro-modular housing in south London, and a manager at the city of London is threatening to sue a member of the media. Craig breaks down those stories - plus the latest Conservative-to-Liberal floor crossing - with former city councillor Cheryl Miller, CUPE Local 101 President Steve Holland and former TVDSB trustee Matthew Newton-Reid. The 427th episode of the Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

London is in crisis - but will the province acknowledge it? Ontario's Big City Mayors have all signed a letter urging the Ford government to declare homelessness and the addictions crisis a state of emergency. Will they actually do it? What would that mean? London Mayor Josh Morgan joined Craig on the podcast to discuss that story and the new micro-shelters being built in South London - far from the city's downtown core. How will they operate? How did security firm Xpera get the contract? The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

We're still trying to figure out what's next for trustees, the standard testing/EQAO results are pretty bad, school boards all over the province are in flux - strange times! Craig was joined by education expert Debbie Kasman to tackle all of these issues and more on the latest podcast - brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

It's Friday Round Table time, and Craig opens the podcast by sharing what he knows about the Mariam Hamou arrest story. He goes over where this all may have started, how was got to the point of an arrest being made, what may have been the catalyst for St. Thomas Police filing the charges and more. Then, London Home Builders Association Executive Director Jared Zaifman and United Way Elgin Middlesex Kelly Ziegner joined Craig to analyze the big stories of the week, including council finalizing a budget - will voters be willing to live with a 3.4% tax hike? Then, they talk about potential changes to the 'renoviction' bylaw in the City of London and another exit at the London Police Service Board. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

Teaching kids about food can help fight food insecurity. It's true - and that's one of the many things Growing Chiefs Ontario does. The London-based non-profit has helped thousands of people learn about cooking, food preparation, food costs and more. Executive Director Andrew Fleet joins Craig on the podcast to talk about the organization, the growing amount of food insecurity in London and more. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.

On this week's Friday Round Table, Craig welcomes former Thames Centre Deputy Mayor Kelly Elliott and community advocate Jeremy McCall to the Covent Garden Market Studio. First, they breakdown a new report from the Middlesex-London Health Unit showing that opioid overdoses and poisonings are trending down. Have we turned a corner here? Is this report not showing what's happening on the street? Then, they chat about the work environment at London City Hall. Councillor Susan Stevenson says she's been harassed by fellow councillors and staff. Does she have a point or is this just a political play? Then, Bill 33. Education Minister Paul Calandra wants to get rid of trustees. But, the panel says his plans are poorly thought out. The Craig Needles Podcast is brought to you by Downtown London and the Covent Garden Market.